We curate a digest of the latest news in our field for advocates, policymakers, community coalitions and all who work toward shaping policies and practices to effectively prevent substance use and treat addiction.
Public health groups and tobacco companies are united in their opposition to a provision of the Affordable Care Act that allows insurance companies to charge smokers 50 percent more than nonsmokers, The Washington Post reports.
A growing number of drug companies are working with the World Anti-Doping Agency to try to prevent illegal use of their products among athletes, according to The New York Times.
The term "enabling" is commonplace in the field of addiction and used within support group settings, in treatment programs and throughout the professional literature about addiction and the family. Kimberly Kirby, PhD, of the Treatment Research Institute, explains how it is one of the most frequently misunderstood terms in the field.
Teens who are old enough to be in 12th grade, but have dropped out of school, have higher substance abuse rates than their peers who are enrolled in school, according to a new government report.
Kidney damage caused by synthetic marijuana was reported in 16 patients in six states last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All were admitted to the hospital, and five required hemodialysis, a treatment for advanced kidney failure.
Alcohol consumption results in an estimated 20,000 cancer deaths in the United States, a new study concludes. The majority of alcohol-related deaths in women are from breast cancer, while in men, alcohol is most likely to cause upper airway and esophageal cancer.
Laws that ban smoking in enclosed public places may result in lower preterm birth rates, a new study suggests.
A new study finds racial differences in opioid prescribing, monitoring and follow-up treatment practices. Black patients are less likely than white patients to have their pain levels documented, and to be referred to a pain specialist. They are more likely to be referred for substance abuse assessment after being prescribed opioids, MedicalXpress reports.
Women who are attempting to quit smoking may try to reduce their quitting-related stress by using alcohol, which in turn can lead to greater urges to smoke, a new study finds. This vicious cycle can increase the risk of smoking relapse, according to Science Daily.
The generic drug distributor Rochester Drug Co-Operative Inc. has sued the maker of the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone for allegedly monopolizing the opioid treatment market, Bloomberg reports.
Treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder does not appear to help many young children, a new study concludes.
The maker of the sweet alcoholic drink Four Loko will put an “alcohol facts panel” on the back of cans containing more than two servings of alcohol, to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s charges of deceptive marketing.
Researchers at the University of Mississippi have developed a patch to deliver THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. They say it could be used to treat pain, glaucoma, and the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.
Veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome are often prescribed medications not supported by existing government guidelines, according to a new study. Most of these prescriptions are written by mental health care providers.
A task force of doctors, public health experts and social workers in Florida has released a report designed to combat the growing problem of babies born to mothers who are addicted to prescription drugs.
While extensive research exists on the effects of tobacco use in the general population, few studies focus on individuals with mental illnesses. Further research is needed to address tobacco cessation efforts in this underserved community, explains Legacy President and CEO Cheryl Healton
Teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are significantly more likely to have substance abuse issues and to smoke cigarettes, compared with their peers without a history of the disorder, according to a nationwide study.
A growing number of pets are being accidentally poisoned, and prescription medicines are largely to blame, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Depressive symptoms in problem drinkers often are the result of heavy alcohol intake, a new study suggests.
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that would strengthen the nation’s mental health care system, and improve access in communities, according to The Washington Post. The bill would require about 2,000 federally qualified community behavioral health centers to provide substance abuse treatment and 24-hour care.
The Colorado legislature is gearing up to debate where to set the limit on how much marijuana can be in a person’s system before they are considered to be driving under the influence, according to The Denver Post.
A new report links acute kidney injury with use of synthetic marijuana. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say doctors should consider the possibility of synthetic marijuana use in young adult patients with negative urine drug screens who have acute kidney damage.
People view addiction to food in a less negative light than addiction to alcohol or tobacco, according to a study by researchers at Yale University.
Many doctors in the United Kingdom (U.K.) are reluctant to prescribe painkillers, CNN reports. Patients in the U.K. take less than half the pain medication consumed by American patients.
Over the past decade, America has experienced a rampant rise in the number of people addicted to prescription painkillers, heroin and other opioids. We truly face an epidemic, says Dr. Marvin Seppala of Hazelden.
Get Support
